TY - JOUR
T1 - Heart volume reduction during radiotherapy involving the thoracic region in children: An unexplained phenomenon
AU - van Dijk, Irma W. E. M.
AU - Visser, Jorrit
AU - Wiersma, Jan
AU - van Boggelen, Jessica R.
AU - Balgobind, Brian V.
AU - Feijen, Elizabeth A. M. (Lieke)
AU - Huijskens, Sophie C.
AU - Kok, Wouter E. M.
AU - Kremer, Leontien C. M.
AU - Rasch, Coen R. N.
AU - Bel, Arjan
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Background and purpose: Radiotherapy involving the thoracic region is associated with cardiotoxicity in long-term childhood cancer survivors. We quantified heart volume changes during radiotherapy in children (<18 years) and investigated correlations with patient and treatment related characteristics. Material and methods: Between 2010 and 2016, 34 children received radiotherapy involving the thoracic region. We delineated heart contours and measured heart volumes on 114 CBCTs. Relative volume changes were quantified with respect to the volume on the first CBCT (i.e., 100%). Cardiac radiation dose parameters expressed as 2 Gy/fraction equivalent doses were calculated from DVHs. Chemotherapy was categorized as treatment with anthracyclines, alkylating agents, vinca-alkaloids, and other. Results: The overall median heart volume reduction from the first to the last CBCT was 5.5% (interquartile range1.6–9.7%; p < 0.001). Heart volumes decreased significantly between the baseline measurement and the first week (Bonferroni's adjusted p = 0.002); volume changes were not significant during the following weeks. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between heart volume reduction and alkylating agents; however, no multivariate analyses could be done to further confirm this. Conclusions: We found a significant heart volume reduction in children during radiotherapy. Elucidation of underlying mechanisms, clinical relevance, and possible long-term consequences of early heart volume reduction require a prospective follow-up study.
AB - Background and purpose: Radiotherapy involving the thoracic region is associated with cardiotoxicity in long-term childhood cancer survivors. We quantified heart volume changes during radiotherapy in children (<18 years) and investigated correlations with patient and treatment related characteristics. Material and methods: Between 2010 and 2016, 34 children received radiotherapy involving the thoracic region. We delineated heart contours and measured heart volumes on 114 CBCTs. Relative volume changes were quantified with respect to the volume on the first CBCT (i.e., 100%). Cardiac radiation dose parameters expressed as 2 Gy/fraction equivalent doses were calculated from DVHs. Chemotherapy was categorized as treatment with anthracyclines, alkylating agents, vinca-alkaloids, and other. Results: The overall median heart volume reduction from the first to the last CBCT was 5.5% (interquartile range1.6–9.7%; p < 0.001). Heart volumes decreased significantly between the baseline measurement and the first week (Bonferroni's adjusted p = 0.002); volume changes were not significant during the following weeks. Univariate analysis showed a significant correlation between heart volume reduction and alkylating agents; however, no multivariate analyses could be done to further confirm this. Conclusions: We found a significant heart volume reduction in children during radiotherapy. Elucidation of underlying mechanisms, clinical relevance, and possible long-term consequences of early heart volume reduction require a prospective follow-up study.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85046151184&origin=inward
UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29703501
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2018.04.008
DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2018.04.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 29703501
SN - 0167-8140
VL - 128
SP - 214
EP - 220
JO - Radiotherapy and oncology
JF - Radiotherapy and oncology
IS - 2
ER -